Sarah Laturnus

Tourism Manager

Well hello again! I hope that you had a nice long weekend and were able to enjoy some time with the people who matter most to you. Did you make it out to the Tunnel? How great is it that's it's now open for the season?! Spring is really here!!

The closer we move to peak season there are more and more things to celebrate!

I would like to take this moment to invite you to Brockville Tourism's Stakeholder Mixer and Brochure Swap Monday May 16, 2022 from 1pm to 4pm at the new Tree Top Trekking 1000 Islands location. Please RSVP with the button below if you plan on joining so that we can prepare. 

Also, their management has shown interest in packaging with accommodations locally. Please reach out to me if you would like to connect.

On April 6, Region 9 Regional Tourism Organization (RTO9) received a non-repayable contribution of $3 million from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to deliver the Tourism Relief Fund to tourism businesses in South Eastern Ontario.

Support is available for small businesses in the tourism sector to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and seize new market opportunities through enhanced or new products and services.

RTO9 will be administering non-repayable financial support ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. For-profit businesses in South Eastern Ontario can apply for non-repayable contributions of up to $100,000 for up to 50% of eligible project costs and not-for-profit organizations can apply for non-repayable contributions of up to $100,000 for 100% of eligible costs.

The Tourism Relief Fund is made possible by the Government of Canada and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (The Funders) and administered by Regional Tourism Organization 9 (RTO). This fund is being made available to; SMEs* Incorporated Private Sector Tourism Businesses, Indigenous Tourism Businesses, and Incorporated Not-For-Profits that service tourists on a regular basis. This program is to assist in the recovery of the tourism industry within Tourism Region 9 as defined by the Province of Ontario – South Eastern Ontario. All expenditures must be made for upgrades to facilities, services, or enhanced sustainability programming that will benefit the visiting tourist and/or tourism employees. *SMEs – Small / Medium Enterprises that have fewer than 500 employees.

RTO 9 is proud to work in partnership with Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) to deliver the Tourism Relief Fund in support of Indigenous tourism in the province of Ontario. 

If your business or organization is 51% or more Indigenous-owned and controlled, please visit ITO’s Tourism Relief Fund webpage to apply and access additional program support. As the recognized voice for Indigenous tourism in Ontario, ITO’s program is customized to the needs of Indigenous communities, organizations, and businesses. Together, ITO and RTO 9 will collaborate to support the growth of Indigenous tourism in the South Eastern Ontario region. 

For questions, contact TRF@indigenoustourismontario.ca

Please note the intake period for applications is April 12th, 2022 to May 15th, 2022 at 4 pm.

Please contact Katherine Hobbs – Project Manager – khobbs@region9tourism.ca, prior to submitting to ensure eligibility of your proposed application.